Sean

Lita Ford and Vixen in July at KK's Adrian Vandenberg in May at KK's

I ought to go and play one but does "weight relieved body" mean "prone to neckdive"? I'm happy with a 4.2-4.5kg bass. Really. I'm the sort of bloke that drinks tea if I'm driving, rather than alcohol-free beer. I'm happy with things as nature intended 😉

One of the originals bands I play in does a lot of songs in Drop B tuning. I'm hammering up and down a Bm scale with a low B ringing out a lot. It was only when I started playing this stuff I realised that a low F# would do for me what a low B does for what you're talking about. Hypothetically, of course.

Yes, I remember that Scirocco, my best friend from school had one very similar!

After longer than I can remember searching for something other than the two semi-active originals bands I've been in for ages, I've got an audition in a couple of weeks. 5 cover songs, nailed them already and will continue to embed them every day until I go. "Just bring a bass, you won't need backline, the sound guy will sort everything for you." It's OK to take a DI + comp, right?

Yep. After talking to the guitarist, that's what I've decided; same as him.

@Bass Direct How close are we to you guys announcing a special/ limited edition? Any news?

1. Does this have solid maple wings? Is it pretty much a re-issue pre-'03 Euro? https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/spector-bass-euro-4-classic-solid-white-gloss/ 2. What's that EMG preamp like? In other words, will I need transplant and LHZ? How close to classic NS2? 3. Will I be able to sing like Mr G Sumner if I buy it?

USA Spectors. They will be worthless in the future. It's probably time to offload them for a few hundred quid now before they bottom out. If you need some help shifting yours, I know a chap that can help.

Me too...

I've just picked up a Plex at a ridiculous bargain price. I use the RB800 model in the HX Stomp but you can't have too much redundancy.

I saw a bassist’s Hipshot Xtender fall apart during a gig last week. It was a proper ticketed gig with about 150 audience. He didn’t have a spare bass. Awkward.

I’ve spoken to the guitarist and he has his guitars tuned Eb Standard and just plays up a semitone for those songs that need it. Using pitch-shifter tech seems too risky for me. I’m now looking forward to playing 4s again and with a pick for at least half of them 😀.

I love using open strings in this sense too, especially for pull-offs and duplicating the main guitar riff. I shan't reveal the songs in case that blows my cover. It's early stages. I think that it's really do-able on an Eb Standard as the songs in their original keys are very root note straight eighth type lines.

I've done this before with BEAD/CFA#D# tuning. It works but I honestly feel like a compete Bell-ender from Bremen using a capo. Especially on a Spector I'm going to experiment with it, though. Thanks for reminding me. 🙂

After searching for ages, a decent band has approached me and I'm going to a rehearsal with them to see how we gel. Most of their songs are down a semitone (half-step) from the originals and there are 2 or 3 that are in the original key. It seems a bit unusual to me. All songs are typical rock songs Although, the first meeting will be all songs played on an Eb Standard tuned bass, how would you approach this for a gig situation? I see my options as: 1. One Eb standard, one E standard tuned bass. If one is needed as backup there's a tuning delay involved. 2. A B standard 5-string. Loses all the open string "opportunities" of many of the songs. Backup bass is same config. No real low-B requirements in the set. 3. An Eb Standard bass but learn the original pitch songs up a semi-tone and get used to it. Backup bass is same config. What would you do?

I'm intrigued. Please tell us more.

Well, there’s 2 down 8 to go? I think we know where a 3rd would go 😉 I’m just not that fussy with necks, as long as a bass isn’t ultra skinny, like some Ibanez models of the past that give me cramp or like the barge Valenti I had shaved, that made my finger joints hurt, I’m happy.

Now that I’ve had a good look, I’m smitten. To save people searching, the spec is: Model Number: NS-2 Weight: 8.78 Pounds Serial Number: #1527 Signed: May 17, 2023 Specifications: 4-String Bass Scale: 34" Narrow Nut Width: 1.5" Solid Maple Wings (Plain Maple) Blue to Purple Colorshift High Gloss Ebony Fingerboard Black Mother of Pearl Crown Inlays Blue Luminlay Side Dots EMG PJ-X Pickups Spector 9v HAZ Spector Lightweight Aluminum Locking Bridge w/ Brass Saddles Dunlop Dual Design StrapLok System Black Hardware Spector Tolex Case The bold ones are the bits that get me extra smitten. Importing that would come in about £5750 by my rough estimate with VAT, Duty, Insured Shipping, handling. Can’t be far off a new one.

Agreed. Good point raised there re CSTs, @Eldon Tyrell I must say that the birdseye one currently at BD is outrageous.

Is it a lead sled, though?

Not a huge job. It depends a bit on how crushed the wood is and what it is. I did some steaming on that Euro LX 5 of mine last week. I used an iron and a wet microfiber cloth. It's much more forgiving and leaves more safety factor than a soldering iron and cotton buds. It was more dents than indentations in that case, though. The lads at BD should be able to to it.

Bass weevils?

I’m available to do some basic mods to lighten it if anyone’s interested 😉.